I was really looking forward to taking a good look at "Trilby", but alas, Trilby (1915), turns out to be rather indifferently directed by the acclaimed Maurice Tourneur.
Indeed, the best way I can describe it is that, in my opinion, it takes pride of place with many of those pretentious but laughable efforts that give old movies a really bad name.
True, although she is far, far too matronly for the part, Clara Kimball Young does enact the title role with some assurance and even a pleasing degree of appeal, but Wilton Lackaye makes his Svengali a totally ridiculous rather than a menacing figure.
Admittedly, Lackaye is saddled with an extraordinarily conspicuous and totally obvious wig - and that certainly doesn't help to attract the right vibes at all.
Another problem lies with Alpha's muddy yet over-exposed black-and-white DVD (the original was released in sepia) which I would certainly rate as no more than 4/10.
Indeed, the best way I can describe it is that, in my opinion, it takes pride of place with many of those pretentious but laughable efforts that give old movies a really bad name.
True, although she is far, far too matronly for the part, Clara Kimball Young does enact the title role with some assurance and even a pleasing degree of appeal, but Wilton Lackaye makes his Svengali a totally ridiculous rather than a menacing figure.
Admittedly, Lackaye is saddled with an extraordinarily conspicuous and totally obvious wig - and that certainly doesn't help to attract the right vibes at all.
Another problem lies with Alpha's muddy yet over-exposed black-and-white DVD (the original was released in sepia) which I would certainly rate as no more than 4/10.